New Signings for Podium Ambition

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Grace Garner, Elizabeth-Jane Harris and Amy Gornall become the first new signings for Podium Ambition’s 2016 roster

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New Signings for Podium Ambition

After an impressive 7th place at the Junior Road World Championships, Leicestershire’s Grace Garner turns professional for her first season as an under 23 and further adds to the fire power of a team that will take a record number of British women in to the professional peloton.

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Grace Garner

Garner’s natural speed will provide the team with a finishing option alongside riders like Katie Archibald and Katie Curtis who flourished in the fast finishes of the Aviva Women’s Tour and Ride London Grand Prix, but the team’s strength across the board will also provide Grace with a great place to continue to flourish.

After a season which also included 2 stage wins at The Ras na mBan, a victory in the Hillingdon round of the National Road Series and 6th on GC at the Junior UCI race at Borsele, Grace already boasts an impressive palmares.

Grace will be joined by fellow Brits Elizabeth-Jane [Ejay] Harris, from Liverpool and Amy Gornall, from Lancashire – both of whom, like Grace have had a stand-out year in 2015

Ejay joins from Army Cycling and is fresh from a 4th place finish at the weekend’s RTTC Closed Circuit Time Trial Championships held over 5 laps of the Thruxton Motor Racing Circuit. Throughout the year, Ejay has excelled on all kinds of terrain and was a target for the team even before her impressive breakaway double at the Darley Moor Team Series and Goodwood Biking Belles GP on August bank holiday weekend. Throughout the year Ejay has been a consistent top 10 finisher and has now shown she can turn her hand to time-trialling.

 

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With former international cycling medallists as parents, Amy Gornall was always going to be a talented rider and she is now forging her own path becoming well known for her attacking style and climbing ability.

With a recent win in North Wales at the hilly Great Orme race and being awarded most attacking rider at Tickhill, Amy’s style of riding will fit perfectly in to the team which is known for driving races and creating opportunities.

Barney Storey spoke of his delight in adding these three new faces to the team and spoke of the impact they would have, “We are always on the look-out for riders who push themselves out of their comfort zone and know how to win bike races. All three of these girls have different specialities but are keen all round hard workers and know when to play the support role and when to take an opportunity.”

“We are rapidly building an impressive lead out train and with Grace’s natural speed she will fit in to the team perfectly. Amy has been improving so rapidly in 2015 and gaining valuable UCI experience and at just turned 19 we know there is more to come. Similarly with Ejay, 2015 has been incredible and from going to a virtual unknown we can now confidently sign her to the team knowing her fearless style will be perfect for the hard racing we have planned next year.”

With 3 more riders left to announce later this week the team are making plans for rider orientation and the first team get together courtesy of training camp partners, Club La Santa UK, and the first confirmed 2016 title sponsor, Sports Tours International.

“Like most pro teams we use December to bring the new line up together and this is something we have done as a UK based club team too,” explained Barney. “We have always felt it important we conducted ourselves in the same way a professionally registered team would, so that the processes were set up for when the riders were collectively ready to make that step up.”

“The Lanzarote base at Club La Santa is the perfect location for the team with everything on site and ideal surroundings for the essential off the bike team bonding too. The Lanzarote roads are perfect for group riding and we create a relaxed and welcoming but hard working environment for everyone.”

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